By Carl Umegboro
(Published by THE TIDE Newspapers of 14 November,2016 at page 9)
(Published by THE TIDE Newspapers of 14 November,2016 at page 9)
PRESIDENT-ELECT, Donald Trump of the
Republican Party will be sworn-in as the 45th President of the
United States of America on January 20, 2017 having defeated the exceedingly
charismatic, articulate and indefatigable former first lady and Secretary of
State, Hillary Clinton who flew the flag of the ruling Democrats Party in a spiritedly
contested election. Prior to the
election, campaign and politicking at some points became so intense that the world
diverted almost all attentions towards the outcome of the election, which
fallaciously was presumed, would end in favour of highly celebrated Mrs.
Clinton.
The bold statement the recent election reechoed is that America’s democracy
has indeed come to stay. Rule of law evidently triumphs in the God’s own
country with sense of belongings to all and sundry. Elites had occupied the
Whitehouse; same to blacks through President Barak Obama, and now, a businessman
in his seventies who, however represents the other side. Indeed, that is
democracy at work. People should be allowed to choose their leaders in a free
and fair contest irrespective of elite’s and popular verdicts.
A common similarity between Trump and
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari is deficiencies of democratic principles.
Buhari, until his ascension to the office of the president spent all his life
as a soldier and rose to a General after succeeding as military head of state
while Trump lives flamboyantly and liberally as a successful private businessman.
Both standings are domineering in nature, and accountable to no one instead authoritarian’s
powers of hire and fire were exercised at random without any form of
opposition. Decisions are usually arrived at overnight and issued to subjects
as directives unlike democracy that demands consultations, explanations and
approvals. No wonder, Buhari disclosed he almost resigned after
inauguration. Democracy is completely a
different ball game. Accountability, probity and routinely appraisals are
inevitable. Providentially, the duo are deputized by experienced democrats; a
learned senior advocate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Indiana governor, Mike Pence
for Nigeria and US respectively.
However, Trump’s presidency may not augur well
for America in the sense that if he decides to adopt Democrat’s policies on
realizing that his promises are unrealistic, it means he cleverly played with
the sensibilities of Americans during the campaigns. If on the other hand, he
wishes to stick to his trumpeted campaign promises which are inconsistent to
the existing order, particularly repealing all Obama’s footprints, he may
likely find it difficult as democracy is all-inclusiveness, and will require
approval from the US Congress to effect the desired change. Anyway, by Trump’s
victory, America will unconsciously join Nigeria on the change mantra.
Clinton was the preferred candidate of the crème-de-la-crème including President
Obama and other ex-US presidents, unfortunately, the wind of change blew forcefully
beyond imagination, and for the first time, blew in a businessman with no experience
on administration or governance into the Whitehouse to lead the world’s number
one country. In all opinion polls, Clinton emerged a winner. Even prophets
pointed at Democrat’s victory prior to the elections. Of course, she put in her
best to occupy the Whitehouse if not the political tricks displayed by her
opponent. Her campaigns were conducted sophisticatedly with assurance of
victory immediately Trump emerged as her opponent.
The greatest challenge facing the billionaire businessman-turned
president after inauguration is fidelity. America as a civilized nation may not
take it lightly with a president who will not keep to his litany of campaign promises
which formed the integral part of his contract with the people. Trump promised
almost everything under the heaven, perhaps due to his inexperience on
democratic principles, not minding that all the existing laws his trumpet sang
against and vowed to repeal were the collective policies of the US Congress. His
campaign promises include building a wall across US/Mexican borders against
illegal immigration, racial profiling especially getting rid of Muslims
believably on terrorism, repealing laws on abortion, gay, supporting a
cessation movement outside America to actualize its agenda, among others.
United
Nations charter, for instance which USA is a signatory to supports freedom of
religion, and therefore may not allow Trump to go ahead with his campaign
promises in that direction. Even some countries Trump verbally attacked their
home governments like Nigeria to craftily garner supports from their citizens
in the US ahead of the elections may have their hopes dashed as the trumpet
will likely be encumbered by the doctrine of sovereignty protecting those
countries from external aggression. Without a doubt, Trump might be ignorant of
the doctrine during the campaign; nonetheless, as president-elect, he should by
now be undergoing orientation on constitutional governance. From his acceptance
speech, it is obvious Trump is now beholding the democratic realities. By and
large, if Trump eventually adopts the present policies of the Democrats, it
means Americans that robbed and disappointed Clinton of victory at the poll
have extremely goofed. Good governance should be measured vis-a-vis campaign promises. With America as the cynosure of the
world, Trump cannot afford to swerve from his campaign promises in order not to
set a wrong precedence to nascent democracies.
Umegboro, a public affairs analyst
writes from Abuja.
- To trace in THE TIDE Newspapers,click here:http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2016/11/14/trumps-trumpets-and-political-realities/
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